nava-vidha artha kaila śāstra-mata lañā
śuni' prabhu kahe kichu īṣat hāsiyā
nava-vidha - nine kinds; artha - meanings; kaila - did; śāstra-mata - the principles of authorized scriptures; lañā - taking; śuni' - after hearing that; prabhu - Lord Caitanya; kahe - began to speak; kichu - something; īṣat - slightly; hāsiyā - smiling.
The ātmārāma verse was discussed at Naimiṣāraṇya at a meeting of many great sages, headed by Śaunaka Ṛṣi. They questioned Śrīla Sūta Gosvāmī, who presided at the meeting, about why Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī, a paramahaṁsa already in the transcendental position, was attracted to a discussion of the qualities of Kṛṣṇa. In other words, they wanted to know why Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī engaged in the study of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.